Not Quite Fall Classic race in Cranford enters 35th year

CRANFORD — As they head towards their fifth decade, the Cranford based Central Jersey Roadrunners Club (CJRRC) continues as one of New Jersey’s most versatile running clubs, equally at home conducting races, participating in them or teaching novices the joys of running.

While their membership spans 11 states, Cranford has been home to the club’s oldest race, the Not Quite Fall Classic (NQFC) 4 Mile, which takes place for the 35th time on Aug. 26 at 8:30 a.m. at Nomahegan Park. The race follows the same course as the Firecracker 4 Mile, conducted each July 4, and gives runners a chance to compare their fitness progression through the summer. Starting in front of Union County College, the course takes a right turn on Kenilworth Boulevard and eventually snakes it way to the back of Orange Avenue School before its classic finish around the pond at Nomahegan Park.

The race, like the club, has gone through many changes over the years. Begun in 1978 and known as The Fall Classic, it was originally a 10K, starting on the Union County College side of Springfield Avenue and taking place in late October or early November. The race was often looked at as a final tune-up for the New York Marathon, another staple race for the club. Eventually the race was shortened to a five-mile and moved to Labor Day, where it thrived for about a decade. But in an effort to avoid competing with the multitude of Labor Day races, the club moved the race up a week into the last Sunday in August, when there are usually few races. If Labor Day falls on Sept. 1, then the race is held on Aug. 24. When the race was moved from Labor Day it was renamed to its current moniker.

“We are always looking for ways to make our races better,” said current club president Tom Brand of Summit. “We strongly encourage feedback, whether positive or negative and try to use suggestions on what we did wrong or right.”

Brand is one of the busiest and most accomplished runners in the state, having completed 123 marathons and is also a wonderful messenger for the club’s goals, often leading by example.

“Tom is a very good president,” said club member Tom Henry of Cranford, a former president. “He is a good listener, keeps meetings moving in a positive direction and is always looking for ways to make the club better.”

The club meets the last Thursday night of most months at the Cranford VFW building on South Avenue, and the meetings usually include a guest speaker who talks on running or a related health and fitness topic. After Brand and his cabinet discuss current, past and future topics, there is always an inquiry if there are any new members attending. In a scene reminiscent of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, a new member stands up and states their name. After being given the obligatory hello, new members tell a few things about themselves, including how many miles a week they run, how long they have run and their goals. After the general part of the meeting concludes, the club provides snacks and more discussion ensues.

CJRRC has undergone numerous evolutions during its nearly 40 years. In its early years, it was a haven for elite runners training for the New York Marathon. In 1983 it had six runners under three hours for the marathon and was considered one of the top competitive teams in the state. In recent years, as many runners have aged or worn down from so many races, the average pace of the membership has slowed. Yet the club has fielded strong women’s teams and is dominant in the relatively new men’s over 80 age group, where the club presents a threesome of Staten island legend Bill Welsh, Joe LaBruno of Bayonne and Nathaniel Finestone of Mountainside.

“We are rightfully proud of all our teams but our over 80s men are competing at an age when most have long given up on exercise and redefining what an octogenarian can achieve,” Brand said.

Many of CJRRC’s 300-plus members run at least a race a week and some do more than that. Club member Fran Libasci recently completed her 100th marathon and, having run a marathon in each state, is now attempting to complete two marathons in every state. An indispensable member of the club, she also compiles the newsletter and assists in the planning and execution the club’s three races, which include the wildly successful Hangover Run on New Year’s Day in Westfield and the Summer Sunrise in Somerset.

Libasci has also been the coordinator and coach for the club’s Step by Step classes. These eight-week classes start in mid to late April. Three levels of classes are offered (“getting started,” “building endurance” and “speedwork”). Libasci has been assisted by at least eight additional club members who are assistant coaches. Readings and lectures are provided in addition to 45-60 minutes of running.

Mother Nature has been much kinder to the club in 2012 than 2011,when every kind of imaginable weather resulted in five cancelations, all involving Libasci and Brand having to show up to the event site to make certain people knew that the event was not taking place. A year ago, the Hangover Run had to be rescheduled twice because of excess snow in Tamaques Park. The club picnic was postponed because of excessive heat and, to add insult to injury, the club scheduled the makeup picnic to take place directly after the NQFC, which was scheduled for Aug. 29. It turned out to be another cataclysmic day. With Hurricane Irene bearing down on the area, Libasci smartly canceled several days ahead of the event and rescheduled for the first free date, Nov. 5, making it a true Fall Classic last year. But just as Nomahegan Park had begun recovering from Irene, a Halloween snow storm hit the week before the makeup race. The park was cleaned up yet again and the race went on without incident.

In true payback fashion, the club has been rewarded with nearly perfect weather for their first two events this year, and Libasci and Brand are hopeful that for Aug. 26 good things will happen in threes.

But as active runners who have seen just about everything they are ready for anything.